Luggage hinge



. Feb. 24, 1959 H.V L. KoTKlNs LUGGAGE HINGE Filed Feb. 1. 1955 INVENTUM HENRY L. KmmNS 2,814,401 LUGGAGE HINGE Henry L. Kotkins, Seattle, Wash.` Application February 1, 195s, serial No. 485,368

s claims. `(c1. iis- 145) The present invention is directedto an improved hinge assembly particularly useful invconjunction with pieces of luggage and the like. 1

In addition to providing a hinge structure whichis suiciently strong and durable to meet the requirements of an acceptableluggage hinge, the hinge assembly of `but has a tendency to close by its own weight, frequently when both hands lof the packer are occupied with articlesv to be packed. Naturally, this condition is quite annoying, and there is a definite need for a luggage con struction which embodies a device to hold the cover of the luggage open in a positive manner, provided 'the cost of such a device does not add a material amount to the cost of the luggage. The satisfaction of that need is the principal object of the present invention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a piece of luggage with an improved hinge assembly which incorporates a positively acting mechanism to hold the cover of the luggage against closing by its own weight.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive hinge mechanism particularly adapted for luggage and composed entirely of simple metal stampings.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the attached sheet of drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a piece of luggage including a pair of hinge assemblies of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the hinge assembly, partly in cross-section, illustrating the position of the elements of the hinge assembly while the cover is closed;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the position of the elements when the cover is open; v

Figure 4 is a plan view of the spring member included in the hinge assembly; and

Figure 5 is a view of the hinge assembly, partly in cross section illustrating more particularly the hinge member of the present invention.

In Fig. 1 reference numeral 10 indicates generally a suitcase construction including a lower receptacle portion 11 and a cover member 12 cooperating therewith. Actually, in many types of suitcase design, such as those known as the two-suiter, the cover 12 itself may be a 2,874,401A Patented Feb. 24, 1959 "ice receptacle with lsubstantially lthe same mass and volume as the receptacle 11. For convenience, however, the upper closure member will be referred to as the cover and the lower member as the receptacle.

The receptacle 11 and the cover 12 are hingedly connected together by means of a pair of spaced hinges' generally indicated at numeral 13 in Fig. 1. `As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, each of the hinges 13 may include a lower hinge member 14 having a pair of spaced apertures provided therein to receive a pair of rivets 17 which fasten the lower hinge member 14 to the back of the receptacle 11.

The lower hinge member 14 includes a raised, inclined central portion 18 which cooperates with an upper hinge member 20 to limit pivotal movement of the latter. The upper hinge member 20 also includes a pair of spaced apertures through which a pair of rivets 22 extend to secure the upper hinge member 20 to the cover 12 of the luggage. A pair of inturned marginal portions 21 on the hinge member 20 are provided to abut the rear of the cover 12.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper hinge member 20 has a pair of spaced camming portions 23 with apertures 24 extending therethrough. A pivotal connection between the upper hinge member 20 and the lower hinge member 14 is provided by inserting a pin 26 through the apertures 24 in the cam portions 23 and then bending over opposed end portions 27on the lower hinge member 14, the opposed end portions 27- being spaced at a distance greater than the distance between the camming portions 23. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the end portions 27 Yare bent around thepin 26 to provide the hinged connection.- 1

The camming portions are'designed to cooperate with a spring member generally illustrated at numeral 28 in the drawing, the latter being composed of relatively flat spring plate 29 (Fig. 4). A pair of spaced apertures 30 is provided in the plate 29, the distance between the apertures 30 being identical to the distance between the apertures receiving the rivets 17, so that the two sets of apertures will be put in registry when the spring plate 29 is disposed immediately behind the lower hinge member 14. The rivets 17 thereby serve to secure both the spring plate 29 and the lower hinge member 14 to the rear of the receptacle 11.

The spring plate 29 also includes a pair of slots 311 formed therein which dene a flexible leaf portion 32 and bent upper tab portions 34 in spaced relation to the leaf portion 32. As illustrated in the drawing, the leaf portion 32 extends immediately behind the camming portions 23 formed in the upper hinge member 20 and is continually in contact therewith. The pressure of the camming portions 23 urges the leaf portion 32 rearwardly, leaving the ends of the tab portions 34 abutting the pin 26. As best illustrated in Figure 5, the end portion 27 is bent around the pin 26 leaving the extreme end portion 27a free. To prevent the possibility of having the pin 26 work out of the bight of the loop provided by the end portion 27 around the pin 26 the upper tab portionsv34 of the spring plate 29 are received in abutting relation with the pin 26.

The shape of the camming surfaces is such that as the cover is being opened with respect to the receptacle, the

camming surfaces flex the leaf portion 32 until an over-V ass/4,401

" 14` As a result, the'cover 12 cannot close by virtue of 'its' own weight acting 'on"the"pi'votal"axis"of"the"pin"26,

since most of the weight is Concentrated rearwardly of the Vaxis of Suspension. At thesame time, the cover can be recl'osed when' desired by' simply "applying suici'ent' pres- "'sure'to'overcome'the bias provided bythe'l'ea'f' spring por- "ti'on 32.

The hinge assembly of the present"invention thus pro- Mostof the elem'entsjof 'the hingelassembly can bem'ade' from' simple vshe'etmetal It'willbe evident Athatvarious modicationsn be fmade' to'the describedl embodiment without. 'departing from the scope'of the'present invention.

I claim' as my invention: 1. A hinge assembly comprising a pair' of 'cooperating hingemembers, 'one of said hinge members-having bent voverendl portions, a pin extending through said'bent over end portions, and providing a pivotal axis Ybetween said hinge members, a spring member carried by 'one of said hinge members, said spring member having a centrally disposed flexible' portion and spaced vend portions abutvtingsaid pintojpreve'nt displacement' of said pinfrom vsaid bent-over end` portions, and a cam formed on`the other of said hinge members arranged to abut said exible portionin'Y one position of said hinge members to thereby resist, pivotal movement of said hinge'memb'ers -about said pin.

' 2. A hinge assembly comprising a pair 'of' cooperating hinge' members, one of said hinge members having bent over end portions, a pin extending through said bent over .4 hinge members, a spring member carried by one of said hingemembers; 'said'spring member having 'inwardly'extending slots defining a exible central portion and also being provided with bent end portions abutting the end portions of said pin to prevent displacement of said pin from said bent over end portions, and a cam formed on the other of said hinge members arranged to abut said exible portion in onevposition of said hinge members to thereby resist pivotal movement of said hinge members about said pin.

3. A luggagev hingeassembly comprising a pair of hinge members, each of said hinge members having a plurality` of apertures"`for 'receiving securing'means`therethrough, a pin` providing a pivotal`v axis for said hinge 15 members, a spring member having a plurality of apertures arranged to be put in registry with the apertures in one of said hinge members to permit said spring member to be secured jointly with said one hinge member to a portion 'of-the luggage', said one hinge member also `incliiding bent 4over end' portions providing bearing supportsVV for `the-ends of said pin, said springv member having inwardly extending slots' de'riing ai exible central portion and also being p'r'ovidedwith bent end portions abuttingthe end portions' of 'said' pinto prevent' displacement of sid pin from said bent over end portions, and a eam'formed on the other 'of said Vhinge members arranged to abut said flexible portion'in" one'position 'ofv said hinge' members to thereby' `resistpivotal' movement' 'of said hinge' members about said pin.

References Cited'in the` le of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS end portions, and-providing a pivotal axis between said y 

